P.S: wasn’t Chauvel on a junket when the first Cunliffe coup/counting was required and missed the whole thing all together?

The days of Labour standing up for the working masses are long gone. They are a party of minority interests. Gays, Maori, unemployed, anything except the white working class masses.

The traditional supporters of Labour have been alienated by the party. They will continue to decline until such times as they truly represent the workers.

I’d rather you stayed Trevor, Labour looking barely likely to be in government is great as far as I’m concerned…

So no… Stay!

“I’ve always maintained that the market makes an excellent servant and a terrible master. And this Government is failing to control the market.”

What an unfortunate statement from David Shearer, Governments in a democracy cannot and will not ” control the market”

Labours plan according to David involves revisiting the past and rolling out pseudo socialism where the State is the centre of economic activity. Been there, done that, didn’t work.

Labour’s disastrous performance was not because the driver or navigator were incompetent. Far from it. Goff and Mallard did extremely well.

They lost because the Labour Party is a 1972 Trabant 601 with four flat tires.

I could be swayed to vote for Labour/Green/Winston/Murri/Hone/Uncle Tom Cobbly and All.

Show me the money team!

Twelve rounds (or maybe ten) !

You couldn’t ask for better theater!

Buy popcorn futures folks!!!

Economic Development
Posted by David Clark

David Shearer has been clear from the start that he wants a clean, green, diversified economy – to ensure New Zealand’s future prosperity.

With my appointment as Economic Development Spokeperson comes a big challenge. We need to present a credible plan to get to a prosperous diversified economy. I’m excited about this opportunity.

Steven Joyce spent a year with the huge bureaucratic resources of MoBIE and failed to map anything but a managed decline. His ‘Business Growth Agenda’ finalised yesterday has proven little more that a year long coms plan. It’s been a year of existing policy re-heats with a few meek ideas thrown in for colour.

But Joyce is vulnerable. Because the facts are drowning out his spin.

Last year 30,000 jobs were lost. Unemployment is pushing 7%. 1000+ Kiwis are leaving for Australia permanently every week.

No amount of spin can hide the fact that the Government has no plan for sustainable economic growth. Selling off our best revenue-generating assets is National’s big idea. Treasury says it will set back the Government coffers by about $100m/year. Other than that, they intend things to continue as they are.

I’ve always maintained that the market makes an excellent servant and a terrible master. And this Government is failing to control the market. It is failing to deliver jobs. Right now so many hard-working New Zealanders are being treated like its slaves, forced to be grateful for any scraps that fall from the table. A full 40% of Kiwis earn less than a living wage.

Labour already has chunky policy announced that will lead to economic growth, jobs and an export-led recovery. In particular we want a pro-growth capital gains tax, Research and Develoment Tax Credits, Universal Kiwisaver, Pro-Kiwi procurement policy and tools for the Reserve Bank that will allow it to do what overseas countries are doing to assist their exporters. These changes will give the economy a shot in the arm and create jobs.

There is more to explore. Sector-specific incentives for growth beg consideration, as do the implications of Labour’s affordable and healthy housing announcements. They will create jobs as will our commitment to creating more apprenticeships. Labour wants a market that generates jobs, living wages and future prosperity for our country.

We need change, because the old solutions have been shown to fail. Right now, the market and it’s hands-off disciple Mr Joyce are not working in the interest of New Zealanders.

http://blog.labour.org.nz/2013/02/28/economic-development/

Good to see him responsible for some original quotes, like “I’ve always maintained that the market makes an excellent servant and a terrible master.”

Patrick Gower @patrickgowernz
Just heard about Charles Chauvel’s nickname from his caucus enemies… Macchi-Chauvellian! #macchichauvellian

David Farrar @dpfdpf
I also heard they were having a farewell party for Charles – but for him, not with him

‏Recess Monkey @recessmonkey_nz
Think you have just proved his point about some in Labour and the media!

Lliam Munro ‏@lrmunro
That seems generous.

Lliam Munro ‏@lrmunro
Machiavelli gave every indication of being highly competent.